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Grynberg M, Cedrin-Durnerin I, Raguideau F, Herquelot E, Luciani L, Porte F, Verpillat P, Helwig C, Schwarze JE, Paillet S, Castello-Bridoux C, D'Hooghe T, Benchaïb M. Comparative effectiveness of gonadotropins used for ovarian stimulation during assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in France: A real-world observational study from the French nationwide claims database (SNDS). Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2023; 88:102308. [PMID: 36707343 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2022.102308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
This comparative non-interventional study using data from the French National Health Database (Système National des Données de Santé) investigated real-world (cumulative) live birth outcomes following ovarian stimulation, leading to oocyte pickup with either originator recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (r-hFSH) products (alfa or beta), r-hFSH alfa biosimilars, or urinaries including mainly HP-hMG (menotropins), and marginally u-hFSH-HP (urofollitropin). Using data from 245,534 stimulations (153,600 women), biosimilars resulted in a 19% lower live birth (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.76-0.86) and a 14% lower cumulative live birth (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.86, 95% CI 0.82-0.89); and urinaries resulted in a 7% lower live birth (adjusted OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.90-0.96) and an 11% lower cumulative live birth (adjusted HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.87-0.91) versus originator r-hFSH alfa. Results were consistent across strata (age and ART strategy), sensitivity analysis using propensity score matching, and with r-hFSH alfa and beta as the reference group.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Grynberg
- Hôpital Antoine Béclère, Service de Médecine de La Reproduction et Préservation de La Fertilité, 92140, Clamart, France; Hôpital Jean Verdier, Service de Médecine de La Reproduction et Préservation de La Fertilité, 93140, Bondy, France.
| | - I Cedrin-Durnerin
- Hôpital Jean Verdier, Service de Médecine de La Reproduction et Préservation de La Fertilité, 93140, Bondy, France.
| | | | | | - L Luciani
- Direction des Affaires Médicales - Real-World Evidence, Merck Santé, 69008, Lyon, France.
| | - F Porte
- Direction des Affaires économiques - Market Access, Merck Santé, 69008, Lyon, France.
| | | | - C Helwig
- Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
| | | | - S Paillet
- Direction des Affaires Médicales - Fertilité, Merck Santé, 69008, Lyon, France.
| | - C Castello-Bridoux
- Direction des Affaires Médicales - Fertilité, Merck Santé, 69008, Lyon, France.
| | - Thomas D'Hooghe
- Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany; Department of Development and Regeneration, Laboratory of Endometrium, Endometriosis & Reproductive Medicine, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 - Box 805 | B-3000, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University Medical School, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
| | - M Benchaïb
- Hôpital Mère Enfant, Service de Médecine de La Reproduction et Préservation de La Fertilité, 69500, Bron, France.
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de Mora F, Howles CM. Overlapping biosimilar and originator follitropin alfa preparations: How much closer can they get? Drug Discov Today 2022; 27:2071-2075. [PMID: 35490965 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Unfounded skepticism relating to biosimilars, arising from the assertion that they are not molecularly identical to their original counterpart, fails to acknowledge that no biological medicine, including Gonal-f® (from Merck Serono) is identical to itself. Molecular differences between the biosimilar and the reference medicines are irrelevant and clinically undetectable as long as they are contained within the accepted variability in the original medicine. Accordingly, the minor differences in 'ongoing pregnancy rate' and 'live birth' rate reported in a recent meta-analysis of biosimilars and Gonal-f® are probably driven by product-unrelated factors, notwithstanding the fact that of the four products under analysis, only Ovaleap® (from Theramex) and Bemfola® (from Gedeon Richter Plc) can unambiguously be considered to be biosimilars. The EU biosimilars model has proven successful, but given the distrust in biosimilars that is built on a biased foundation, the full promise of rFSH alfa biosimilars for reproductive medicine patients is unlikely to be fulfilled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando de Mora
- Departament de Farmacologia, Terapèutica i Toxicologia, Farmacologia, Campus de la UAB, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Colin M Howles
- ARIES Consulting, Ch du Barbolet 5b, 1213 Onex, Geneva, Switzerland
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